Dreams Turn into Reality

At 5.00am, on 4^th November 2009, Karl Davidson and Simon Mounsey had to stand in front of 12 DX swimmers and parents to tell them their programme had been axed with immediate effect. Not a pleasant task! 

After 2 years hard work by Simon and Karl and more recently Andi Manley and other members of the DX coaching staff and committee, dreams turned to reality as Derventio eXcel held its first session for all DX/DXDS swimmers from the Buxton and Chesterfield hubs and all DX south swimmers at the impressive 8 lane pool at Matlock's ARC Centre.

At 5.30am on Saturday 7th January 2012 DX & DXDS swimmers were in the crystal clear waters watched by DX head coach and member of the GB coaching staff on the recent trip to the European Short Course Championships, Andi Manley.  Andi was joined for the first session by Carla Bickerstaffe, standing in for Chesterfield head coach and DX coach Mark Tanner and DX coach Keith Kelly.  DX Coach Kim Hill who would normally be at this session, was away on duty with England Talent together with 5 of the DX swimmers.

The session, also attended by many parents from all three hubs watching from the spectator stand was followed with an Anti Doping Talk presented by Wendy Cole of the ASA. 

Derventio eXcel now has a squad of 40 full time and 25 development squad swimmers within the County.  These swimmers training together as one squad every Saturday morning at this fantastic facility have a busy schedule to look forward to over the next 5 weeks, starting, with a trip to Ponds Forge in Sheffield next Saturday and giving them an opportunity to get some race practice, at the fastest pool in the Country during a level 1 meet.  Some of our swimmers will then attend the Zonal Meet at Corby on 28th & 29th January before they return to the magnificent Ponds Forge venue for our very own February Festival and an opportunity to race against some of the fastest swimmers in the Country, attempting to obtain times for the Olympic Trials at the new Aquatics Centre in London's Olympic Park.  After this, 21 DX swimmers jet off to Lanzarote for a 10 day training camp at Club La Santa.  With its 50 mtr training pool and world class facilities what better way for those amongst them that have qualified to prepare for what is likely to be, one of the most spectacular swimming events ever held in the UK on their return.